In Japan, a shrine (jinja, 神社) is a place of worship in Shinto, the indigenous religion that honours kami (神) — sacred spirits tied to nature, ancestors, heroes, and remarkable places. Unlike a church or temple built mainly for sermons, a shrine is a living threshold between everyday life and the sacred: a grove, a gate, a hall, and open ground where people pause, bow, and leave offerings.
Shrines appear throughout daily life in Japan. Neighbours visit a local ujigami shrine for protection; students pray for exams at a Tenjin shrine; merchants favour Inari shrines; families buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortune slips; and at New Year millions attend hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year. Festivals (matsuri), weddings, and seasonal rituals still centre on shrine communities, even when faith is quiet or personal.
Many shrine grounds also overlap with the world of folklore on this site. Fox messengers at Inari shrines connect to kitsune legends; thunder kami echo Raijin; boundary stones and sacred trees often appear in yōkai tales. Understanding shrines helps place those creatures in their real cultural setting — not only as story monsters, but as beings once approached with respect at the altar.
Search by name, prefecture, city, or shrine type below. Each listing notes enshrined kami, location, and a short description where available. Open a shrine page for maps, visitor notes, and links to official sites when we have them.
30,440 shrines found
Aridoshi Shrine
Wakayama
Emperor OjinAridoshi Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Emperor Ojin. The shrine is...
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Asozu Kuzuryu Shrine
Wakayama
Nine-headed dragon deityAsozu Kuzuryu Shrine is dedicated to the worship of a nine-headed dragon deity, representing the pow...
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Atsuta Shrine (Yamato Takeru)
Wakayama
Yamato Takeru no MikotoA Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, the legendary prince an...
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Wakayama
Ebisu, deity of fishing, commerce, and prosperityA Shinto shrine dedicated to Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, revered as the patron deity of fish...
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Ebisu Shrine
Wakayama
EbisuA Shinto shrine dedicated to Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, revered as a deity of fishing, comm...
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Ebisu Shrine
Wakayama
EbisuA Shinto shrine dedicated to Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, revered as a deity of prosperity, g...
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Ena Hachiman Shrine
Wakayama
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Ena Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emp...
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Fujinami Shrine
Wakayama
Hachiman deity and associated kamiA Hachiman shrine located in Arida, Wakayama Prefecture, serving the local community as a place of w...
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Goryo Shrine
Wakayama
Vengeful spirits and deified soulsGoryo Shrine is dedicated to the worship of goryo, spirits of noble or powerful individuals who died...
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Hachiman Daijin Shrine
Wakayama
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman no Kami)A Hachiman shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, revered as the god o...
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Hachiman Shrine
Wakayama
Emperor Ojin (Hachiman)A Hachiman shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin, revered as the god o...
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Hamanaka Hachiman Shrine
Wakayama
Hachiman (Emperor Ojin)A Hachiman shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Ojin and associated deitie...
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Hinomisaki Shrine
Wakayama
Solar deities and maritime protective spiritsA coastal Shinto shrine located on a scenic cape in Wakayama Prefecture, known for its dramatic clif...
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Hiro Hachiman Shrine
Wakayama
Hachiman, god of war and divine protectionHiro Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to the deified Emperor Oj...
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Hiruko Daijin Shrine
Wakayama
Hiruko no Mikoto (Ebisu)A Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Hiruko no Mikoto, also known as Ebisu, one of th...
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Hiruko Daijingu
Wakayama
Hiruko-no-Mikoto (Ebisu)A Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Hiruko-no-Mikoto, who is venerated as Ebisu, one...
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Hisaki Niu Shrine
Wakayama
Niu MyojinA Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture dedicated to Niu Myojin, a local deity associated with water...
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Hiyoshi Shrine
Wakayama
Oyamakui-no-kamiHiyoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the mountain deity Oyamakui-no-kami, part of the broa...
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Horaisan Shrine Inner Sanctuary
Wakayama
An inner sanctuary (okumiya) of Horaisan Shrine located in the mountainous regions of Wakayama Prefe...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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